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2016 Free Agency: Offseason Wish List for San Francisco 49ers

By Trevor Irvine

Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones (82) carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones (82) carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 7, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Denver Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson (97) throws the ball into the stands after recovering a fumble for a touchdown in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 7, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Denver Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson (97) throws the ball into the stands after recovering a fumble for a touchdown in Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Malik Jackson: Defensive Tackle – 2015 Team: Denver Broncos

Jackson was a key piece in the Broncos No. 1 ranked defense in 2015. Though he didn’t flash like linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, he had a solid season — 34 tackles, 5.5 sacks and seven passes defended. He has also not missed a game in the last three seasons.

Per Pro Football Focus, Jackson ranked 16th out of 123 qualified defensive tackles, with a grade of plus-87.6 (on a zero to 100 scale). He graded excellently in both run defense (plus-81.0) and pass rush (plus-88.5).

Jackson is very likely to be available as a free agent. The Broncos will most likely use their franchise tag on Miller. Per David Aitken of Pro Football Focus, Jackson ranks 16th on his top-20 available free agents, and spells out another reason why Jackson can be had:

"The pair of Malik Jackson and Derek Wolfe had excellent years in Denver’s defensive front, but the likelihood of Jackson returning to the Broncos took a hit when Denver recently gave Wolfe a big extension. Jackson will surely cash in somewhere as a disruptive interior pass rusher, even if it’s not with the Broncos. Amongst 3-4 defensive ends, only J.J. Watt, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Fletcher Cox had more total pressure."

The 49ers management would surely have to see how a tandem of Williams and Jackson would immediately upgrade the D-line, and this would give Arik Armstead more time to get experience and develop.

Per overthecap.com Jackson carried a puny $1,595,403 cap number in 2015. The 49ers can offer him a significant pay raise and still have plenty of cap room to keep building the roster. Again, at only 26, he has many good years left him and with Williams at the same age, the 49ers D-line would be setup for years to come.

Pro Football Focus’ Jeff Deeney also sees the value of Jackson to the 49ers:

Jackson is a no doubter on this wish list. The 49ers need to make his signing a priority.

Next: Bruce Irvin